(Hamburg, 10 January 2017) According to preliminary estimates, Lotto24 AG has again exceeded the guidance it already upgraded in October last year due to a further very favourable jackpot development – especially of the EuroJackpot lottery: in the fourth quarter of 2016, billings reached around EUR 59.0 million (prior year: EUR 35.3 million) and thus grew year on year by about 67%, according to preliminary estimates. With a preliminary figure of EUR 6.9 million (prior year: EUR 3.6 million), revenues even rose by around 95% in the fourth quarter of 2016. For fiscal year 2016 as a whole, billings and revenues thus grew by approximately 47% to EUR 200.5 million (prior year: EUR 136.3 million) and around 67% to EUR 22.6 million (prior year: EUR 13.5 million) respectively, according to preliminary estimates. Due in part to the successful roll-out of lotto clubs in 2016, gross margin improved to 11.8% in the fourth quarter of 2016 (prior year: 10.1%) and thus stood at 11.3% for 2016 as a whole (prior year: 9.9%). With a preliminary figure of 113 thousand new customers in the fourth quarter of 2016 alone (prior year: 56 thousand) – corresponding to growth of around 102% – Lotto24 once again succeeded in raising the number of new customers in fiscal year 2016 by around 10% to 399 thousand (prior year: 361 thousand), according to preliminary calculations. As of 31 December 2016, the number of registered customers thus totalled 1,282 thousand (prior year: 883 thousand). Cost per lead (CPL) of EUR 27.13 in 2016 was well below the prior-year figure of EUR 32.99. This trend was helped by a CPL of EUR 26.85 in the fourth quarter (prior year: EUR 37.19). Based on preliminary calculations, there was a significant improvement in EBIT to EUR -3.9 million (prior year: EUR -13.4 million) and in net profit to EUR -2.3 million (prior year: EUR -10.8 million), due in particular to the strong revenue trend and reduced marketing expenditure of EUR 10.8 million (prior year: EUR 11.9 million).
In 2017, Lotto24 AG plans to extend its market leadership as an online provider of state-licensed lotteries and continue its sustainable growth strategy. The company expects jackpot effects to be lower than in the previous year and thus anticipates a significant reduction in marketing expenditure, with much lower new customer figures and higher CPL. Lotto24 also expects to raise billings by 15% to 20% with a stable gross margin compared to the previous year. Depending on external conditions – especially the jackpot trend – and marketing investments to attract new customers, EBIT is expected to slightly exceed break-even; net profit will be clearly above the break-even point.
The Annual Report 2016 is to be published on 30 March 2017.
